Why does the gecko's tail break?

Geckos have a self-defense mechanism called autodocking, which means they can voluntarily lose their tails as a means of defense. This characteristic is common in geckos and some other lizards. The main reasons are as follows:

Defense Mechanism: When a gecko feels threatened or captured, it will quickly drop its tail. This behavior distracts the predator, allowing the gecko to escape.

Physiological structure: The tail bones have special folds and unique structures. There is a special fracture plane between the tail bones and their surrounding tissues. This allows the gecko's tail to snap off quickly when threatened without causing excessive bleeding.

Grow a new tail: A gecko's lost tail usually regrows gradually over a period of time. The new tail may be different in color and texture from the original tail, and will not have the breeding-specific properties of the lost tail.

Overall, geckos' voluntary tail loss is a unique adaptive behavior that increases their chances of escaping when faced with danger, while also providing them with the ability to regenerate new tails.

animal tags： gecko